Take the complications and cables out of your meeting room, and bring your guest experience into the next generation by providing simple conference rooms.

Today’s simple conference room design removes the hassle of cables, connection types, and compatibility, and delivers an experience to your customers that will have them returning to your conference space again and again. All this, while saving money along the way.

Below are a couple of the products on which we have received positive feedback, and won’t break the bank to install in your space.

Sharp Aquos Boards – Sharp interactive display systems are designed to greatly enhance interaction and productivity. Interactive displays are best used in smaller meeting rooms, huddle spaces, and learning areas. Large meeting rooms can still utilize these screens, with sizes up to 80 inches. Intuitive touchscreen operation, with a finger or a pen, facilitates active collaboration and exchange of opinions. When not being used in a meeting, the screen can be used for an interactive touchscreen display for digital signage displaying ads, directions, information, and notifications. Click here for more details.

Barco ClickShare – At the click of a button, you have the power to share your laptop, tablet, or cell phone screen with the presentation screen in the room. The best feature of the Barco button device…no cords! Connection is obtained through either a USB port or mobile application, so no more compatibility issues with different device manufacturers. Clickshare allows the meeting to be collaborative and no longer limits you to one presenter. Click here for more details.

If anyone is like me, I have anxiety every time I go to use my device as a presentation tool. Will the correct connection for my laptop be available? Is my laptop going to function properly with the device? Do I need to take special considerations to ensure all my media functions properly with the network availability? These devices eliminate the need for worry by ensuring quick, simple connection and compatibility with nearly all available devices. Customers can feel reassured knowing a simple button or app will give them full functionality. No need for cables, set-up, and no waiting to join in. Just easily share what’s on their screen.

At Clear Sight & Sound, Inc., we have installed several of these simple conference room solutions in our customer’s meeting spaces and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Check out this video to see what the Sheraton in Bloomington MN is saying about these two solutions.

Often when debating purchasing new TVs for your business, it can be tempting to stop by your local electronics store and purchase one of their amazing deals. After all, it’s cheaper than you’ve paid for TVs from your dealer before and it’s available to purchase on-the-spot. However, this can be setting yourself up for a great deal of disappointment in the future.

When determining the best television for your needs it’s important to consider exactly how you’ll be using the TV, how long it will be in use each day, and what exactly the warranty will cover on the specific TV.

Consumer TVs are made for just that, the consumer. They are designed to function well in a person’s home, for a maximum of a few hours each day, without the demands provided by a commercial property space. These TVs are warrantied for use in a residential setting by the manufacturer, and warranties can be voided if used otherwise. Due to these lower demands, these televisions are typically cheaper because the technology doesn’t have to be built to run for long hours each day.

Commercial TVs are specifically made to be used in a commercial space. Different types of TVs (typically called, commercial, Prosumer) are made to run for different amount amounts of time (12 hours per day, 16 hours per day, 24/7). The hardware put into these TVs can withstand the stress, heat, and power usage which accompanies running for long times in sometimes demanding environments. Because of this sturdier hardware, the manufacturer will warranty these TVs while being used in a commercial space as that’s where they’re designed to be used.

The below chart demonstrates some of the other, more intricate differences between the two types of displays.

This chart was built using information compiled from the blog “Commercial vs. Consumer Grade Displays” by Michael Sarich-Business Development Manager at Volanti Displays. Full Blog Here

Bottom line: Don’t end up spending more money later by incorrectly trying to save money now. Make sure you’re purchasing the correct standard of TV for your property.

With ever-changing conference rooms and meeting rooms, it has become even more important for owners and managers to consider every option when building their perfect space, especially concerning sound bars & surround sound speakers.

Ensuring functionality while maintaining a clean and organized room will guarantee your guests continue to return to your property instead of moving somewhere else. One of the most difficult decisions to make in any room is what audio equipment to use. Sound bars are a perfect choice for this scenario.

There are so many options to choose from, but all the options of brand, size, power, and more, surface after making the first choice: sound bar or speakers. Below, let’s talk about the benefits and drawbacks of each product type.

Drawbacks of sound bars:

Drawbacks of surround sound speakers:

Most require running wires to each individual speaker.

Takes up more space.

More intricate installation process.

Typically more costly.

Overall, sound bars create an immersive experience, with minimal installation hassles and cord messes, for a smaller meeting or conference room. However, they may lose some effectiveness when placed in a larger area. Surround sound speakers take more time to install, but allow for more even sound distribution throughout a larger meeting space, without the need for extra add-ons later.

Clear Sight & Sound strives to guarantee you have the best possible sound quality for your guest’s meetings, conferences, and events. We work with our manufacturers and distributors to design quality system that will deliver to your expectations and are built to last.

Find the best fit for your rooms with Clear Sight & Sound:

Did you know approximately one out of five adults have a measurable degree of hearing loss? The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires public venues to be equipped with assistive listening systems. Is your property compliant?

The ADA was enacted in 1990 to provide civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities. The ADA guarantees equal access and opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, recreational facilities, employment, transportation, state and local government services, and telecommunications. Not only does the U. S. Department of Justice have the power to enforce the ADA regulations, the number of private lawsuits has increased over the past two years. A provision exists within the act which allows attorney fees to the plaintiff’s attorney. Fines for failure to comply start at $55,000 for the first violation, and $110,000 for any subsequent violation. These fines do not include any personal damages resulting from a private lawsuit.

Hotels, hotel chains, resorts, and conference facilities across the country are a prime target as their meeting and conference rooms are required to comply with ADA assistive listening regulations. In renovating or upgrading facilities, rooms, or properties one of the consistently overlooked areas when ensuring compliance with local and federal regulations is listening devices.

Here are some possible solutions for hospitality venues:

Assistive listening – Ensures everyone can connect to important messages by providing a mandatory assistive listening system during events

Audio Delivered via WI-FI – Ensure everyone from the lobby to the fitness center to the meeting space can connect to the important messages

Tour Groups – Group tours often present challenges in Historical Venues. A Tour Group System solves these challenges so that all participants have a positive experience

There are requirements based on the capacity of the assembly area. For example, Rooms containing 100 seats have a minimum requirement of four Assistive Listening Devices and two neck loops.

It is important for owners and managers of properties containing these spaces to ensure they are not only protected against the financial consequences of noncompliance, but also are providing the best guest experience possible at the property.

At Clear Sight & Sound our goal is to provide the best experience for your guests. If you have further questions regarding these ADA listening devices, or you believe you may not be in compliance with these federal regulations, click here and find out more

How do we give back during the crazy holiday season?

This season it seemed to creep up on us all too fast. We were so happy that we had planned and could execute on the plan early and save us from ourselves and the stress of trying to get it all done at the last minute. It clearly showed how a plan early can help you stay on track, not just with Christmas events but all through the year.

This year we we had an exciting opportunity to partner with Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse. This project mobilizes people around the world to pack shoeboxes with gifts, which are then collected, sorted, shipped around the world, and distributed to millions of children living in poverty and hopelessness. Since many of these children have never received a gift, they are elated to receive an Operation Christmas Child shoebox and will forever treasure the toys, school supplies, and hygiene items that they find inside.

We shopped at the local dollar store to get the most for our money to spread it out to as many shoeboxes as we could. It’s amazing that a shoebox for example, that contained tooth paste, a pack of 5 toothbrushes, stuffed animal, a bible, and pencils/sharpener AND included shipping came to only $15! It’s an amazing feeling to know that the box can change a child’s life forever. Some of these kids grow up to become young adults and still have and talk about their stuffed animal or other items they received, and what that box meant to them. Incredible to be a part of this.

We also think there are so many ways to give back during this season and sometimes it’s doesn’t have to be about the gift giving or charity donations. We think all the little things count too. Little things like someone volunteering to order lunch for the office, starting the cars at the end of the day, brushing snow off a co-worker’s car, the extra thank you for a job well done and keeping an upbeat attitude to not let any potential scrooge dampen the holiday spirit in the office. Here in Minnesota some of these items mean so much more than gifts as we don’t like the cold weather this time of year.

Outside of the little things, it is nice to join with your co-workers and do something for an organization as well. Bringing everyone together to bond on that activity creates a great united team not to mention the satisfaction of serving others. Name your organization that best fits your culture and caring and join to do something to help others this holiday season. Plan, unite, and serve; you’ll be amazed at the results.

Merry Christmas!

Lori Kicker & Dan Star

For more ideas and inspiration check out this blog by Angelique O’rourke’ called “How to Bring the Holiday Spirit of Giving Into Work”.READ FULL BLOG HERE